Emergancy COVID-19 Notices for the Liverpool City Region - 2020-05-17

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DAILY EMERGENCY COVID-19 NEWS
... Important Daily Notices ...

AS This page is to place quick update important notices that are being sent to us from Government and other organisations over the Coronavirus Emergency affecting our country (UK)...  Please remember that the information changes quickly, so always check to see what time and when the last post was made.  We will update as and when we can...  Users of our Formby Reporter's Free Email Service will get most updates 1st and then they will be added on here as soon as we can...  If you have any updates to send in or any views on the posts on here, please email us to:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com.

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This page last updated on 17 May 2020


Concern that some self employed risk missing out on Covid-19 cash

THE Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) worries that some people who are eligible to apply for the self employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant have not received correspondence from HMRC. LITRG is warning people that if HMRC do not have their up to date contact details, they might not hear from the Tax Authority. This is a concern because HMRC are starting to contact people to invite them to check their eligibility for the SEISS grant before the claims process opens later this week. To qualify for the scheme you have to meet several conditions which include a requirement to trade on a self employed basis (either as a self employed individual or a business partner in a trading partnership), both currently and in the future (or would be, but for Covid-19) and that your trade has been affected adversely because of the Covid-19 outbreak. HMRC have used information from 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19 Tax Returns to identify potential SEISS claimants and have contacted them through either email, SMS messages or letter.

Victoria Todd, Head of LITRG, said:- "There may be self employed people who have not received any information from HMRC about the SEISS grant who are eligible and should be making a claim towards the end of this week. This includes people who are self isolating at a different address to where they usually reside or perhaps have changed address or mobile number but have not updated their contact details with HMRC. We are concerned that self-employed people whose businesses have been affected by the Coronavirus may miss out on claiming this grant because they were not aware that it was available. It would be very unfortunate if business owners who have seen a fall in trade because of the lockdown or Covid-19 related health reasons do not get the financial help they are entitled to. HMRC have produced an online checker4 on GOV.UK which identifies whether you may be eligible for the grant.5 But the online checker only checks some of the eligibility conditions and may give an incorrect result. If you are self employed and think you may be eligible for a SEISS grant, we recommend that you read the Government's guidance which sets out the full conditions and that you use the online checker to see if and when you can apply for the scheme. We are aware that some people who think they are eligible are using the checker and receiving a 'not eligible' response. We suggest that you wait a couple of days and then try again. If it still shows you are not eligible then you can ask HMRC to review your eligibility."

To use the SEISS online checker you will need your National Insurance number and Unique Tax Reference (UTR) both of which are on your Self Assessment Tax Return. LITRG's article:- 'How to claim a grant under the self employment income support scheme' explains in more detail how you can use the online checker and how you obtain the SEISS grant.


Hales Barns Carniva postpones its 2020 festival

ORGANISERS of the Hales Barns Carnival, in Cheshire, have announced that the festival will not take place this year due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. They have revealed that they will return, from Friday, 16 July to Sunday, 18 July 2021. The festival was due to take place from 17 July to 19 July 2020, with acts including Martha Reeves And The Vandellas, opera vocalist Russell Watson, and Seventies pop rock band Bay City Rollers, but the event has been postponed following the recent government guidelines. Anybody who has purchased tickets for this year, has had their tickets transferred over to the new dates and will remain valid. Ticketmaster will be sending further details of the postponement to each ticket holder this week with more details.

Organiser Max Eden from Hale Barns Events said:- "We have been holding out to see if it was still possible for this Summer's Hale Barns Carnival to go ahead, but following the governments guidelines regarding outdoor events, it is with deep regret that we have had to postpone this year's event. The safety of our ticket holders, performers and staff must come 1st. We will return bigger and better next year. We would also like to thank the 40k+ attendees of our free live streaming Party At Home concerts which have featured star names and brilliant local acts."

Max Eden added:- "We may not be able to boogie this Summer together, but we've got something new and exciting planned for later this year in the Winter which we will be announcing very soon."

Tickets for Hale Barns Carnival 2021 will go on sale, at 11am, on Friday, 15 May 2020.  Further announcements will be made in the coming weeks.


Changes to Merseyrail Services from 18 May 2020

FROM Monday, 18 May 2020, the frequency and number of rail services on the Merseyrail network will change. The decision has been taken in light of the Prime Minister's announcement on Sunday in which he set out a roadmap for the gradual reduction in lockdown measures. The announcement included guidance that people working in industries such as construction and manufacturing can now begin returning to work. The guidance issued makes clear that only those that absolutely must travel by train, should do so. Merseyrail has increased services to a level that aims to meet an increase in demand, whilst taking into account the number of railway staff isolating due to the virus. Passengers are reminded that these services are for essential journeys only. If you can use alternative forms of transport including cycling or walking please do so in line with the Government guidance.

Andy Heath, Managing Director at Merseyrail, said:- "We have been working with Government and key stakeholders to develop an increased service that aims to meet demand for those who need to travel It is essential that everyone plays their part in helping to keep the trains for those who really need them. So, only use our services if you absolutely must while maintaining social distancing where it is possible to do so. We are committed to providing a reliable service to those who need to travel across the Liverpool City Region as we move through these uncertain times, and I would ask all passengers to act responsibly at all times when travelling, and listen to advice given by staff and displayed at our stations."

Trains will now operate within normal operating hours, albeit at a reduced frequency. These are as follows:-

Monday to Saturday...

Southport to Hunts Cross Line...

Trains every 30 minutes until approximately 19:00 then every 60 minutes until end of service.

Please note:- Additional services will operate during peak times Monday to Friday.

Ormskirk Line...

Trains every 30 minutes until approximately 19:00 then every 60 minutes until end of service.

Kirkby Line...

Trains every 30 minutes until approximately 19:00 then every 60 minutes until end of service.

West Kirby and New Brighton Lines...


Trains every 30 minutes until approximately 19:00 then every 45 minutes until end of service.

Chester Line...

Trains every 30 minutes until approximately 19:00 then every 60 minutes until end of service.

Ellesmere Port Line...


Trains every 30 minutes until approximately 19:00 then a reduced frequency until end of service.

Sunday...

Sunday services will still operate between the hours of 08:00 and 20:00.

Full details of the timetable can be found on:- Merseyrail.Org.

In line with Government advice released by the Department for Transport, Merseyrail is encouraging passengers to follow social distancing guidelines when using the network:-

► Maintain social distancing wherever possible.

► Wear face coverings if you can.

► Use contactless payments where possible.

► Avoid peak travel if you can.

► Arrive at the Station in good time.

► Leave plenty of time for your journey; you might not make the train you planned due to social distancing measures.

► Wash or sanitise hands as soon as possible before and after travel.

► Follow advice from staff and be considerate to other passengers.

► Please be kind and respectful to staff and other passengers.

Passengers are also advised to check before and on their day of travel. This can be done by visiting the Merseyrail website, the Merseyrail Twitter account:- @Merseyrail or by sending a message on WhatsApp on:- 0151 555 1111. For more information and advice about public transport services please visit the Merseytravel website.


Total UK cases COVID-19 cases - update for Liverpool City Region and surroundings

ON the day when it was announced that due to technical issue with the Department of Health's reporting system in Northern Ireland in Ireland lead to problems with the release of the latest numbers of confirmed Covid-19 cases. The Business Secretary Alok Sharma telling the UK that we are moving toward "Level 3" of the 5 tier Covid-19 alert system, and questions about regional differences being skimmed over, the latest statistics are as follows...

The total number of Coronavirus (COVID-19) that have been laboratory confirmed, within the UK, cases now stand at 243,303, that includes tests carried out by commercial partners which are not included in the 4 National totals. The daily number of laboratory confirmed UK cases is 3,142, as of Sunday,17 May 2020. The total number of deaths of people who have had a positive test result confirmed by a Public Health or NHS laboratory is 34,636. Daily number of COVID-19 associated UK deaths added to the total on 15 May was reported to be 170 according to the Department of Health. The number of laboratory confirmed cases within the following Local Authorities, in and around the Liverpool City Region are as follows:-

► Liverpool, 1,549 confirmed cases.

► Sefton, 889 confirmed cases.

► Wirral, 1,177 confirmed cases.

► St. Helens,  725 confirmed cases.

► Halton, 361 confirmed cases.

► Lancashire, 1,186 confirmed cases.

► Cheshire West and Chester, 989 confirmed cases.

► Cheshire East, 1,093 confirmed cases.

► Manchester, 1,410 confirmed cases.

► Stockport, 1,007 confirmed cases.

► Trafford, 737 confirmed cases.

► Wigan, 1,089 confirmed cases.

► Bolton, 940 confirmed cases.

► Rochdale, 706 confirmed cases.

► Bury, 664 confirmed cases.

► Tameside, 617 confirmed cases.

► Oldham, 997 confirmed cases.

► Blackburn with Darwen, 384 confirmed cases..

These stats are according to Public Health England as of 16/05/2020. Last updated 4.00pm GMT. UK total includes cases detected through:- "Pillar 2" testing (tests carried out by commercial partners) and therefore does not equate to the sum of the 4 countries' counts, which only include:- "Pillar 1" (tests carried out by NHS / PHE / Devolved Administration Labs).. UK total includes cases detected through:- "Pillar 2" testing (tests carried out by commercial partners) and therefore does not equate to the sum of the 4 countries' counts, which only include:- "Pillar 1" (tests carried out by NHS / PHE / Devolved Administration Labs).


UK Government Coronavirus Press Conference on 17 May 2020 Video


 


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